Control and indicator device for radio receivers



March 3%, 1.937. E. o. BURTON CONTROL AND INDICATOR DEVICE FOR RADIO RECEIVERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 27, 1935 March 30, 1937. E O N 2,075,569

CONTROL AND INDICATOR DEVICE FOR RADIO RECEIVERS Filed Feb. 27, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ewe 7%) March 30, 1937. O BURTON 2,075,569

CONTROL AND INDICATOR DEVICE FOR RADIO RECEIVERS Filed Feb. 27, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 a8 prays March 30, 1937. E. o. BURTON CONTROL AND INDICATOR DEVICE FOR RADIO RECEIVERS Filed Feb. 27, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Mar. 30, 1937 CONTROL AND INDICATOR DEVICE FOR RADIO RECEIVERS Euclid 0. Burton, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Philco Radio & Television Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application February 27, 1935, Serial No. 8,548

3 Claims.

This inventioimelates to control and indicator devices for radio receivers, particularly remote control devices for automobile radio receivers and the like. The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple compact unit which is adapted to perform all of the control and indicating functions requisite in the operation of modern radio receivers, including multi-band receivers, and which embodies novel features of structure and operation.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel indicator mechanism in such a control device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel pilot and indicator lamp unit which automatically makes proper electrical contacts upon its insertion in the device.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel connector and fuse unit which facilitates replacement of a fuse.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an indicating means substantially free from back-lash which would tend to make its indication inaccurate.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a novel indicating means by which the frequency to which the receiver is tuned may be indicated.

The invention may be fully understood from the illustration of a preferred form thereof on the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device showing the conductors and cables extending therefrom;

Fig. 2 is a face view of the device with the front cover or window removed;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view along line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a part of the device;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a part of the device taken along line 5- -5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the front cover in inverted position;

Fig. '7 is a sectional view of the same part taken along line 1-1 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a part of the cover;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 99 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 10 is a sectional perspective view of the lock;

Fig. 11 is a face view of the lock;

Fig. 12 isa sectional view along line i2-l2 of Fi Fig. 13 is a sectional view along line 13-13 of Fig. 2; and 1.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the lockkey.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the device illustrated is one which is adapted for control of an automobile radio receiver, particularly amulti-band receiver. The assembled device comprises -the device proper designated generally by reference character I, the flexible shafts 2, 2a and 3, and the electrical conductors 4 and 5, the shafts and conductors extending from the device as illustrated and being adapted for connection to the radio receiver. The device I may be mounted in any desired position within access of the operator of the automobile or another occupant of the same. For example, the device might be mounted upon the steering wheel column or upon the dashboard of the automobile.

The device comprises the indicator portion designated generally by numeral 6 which is adapted to indicate the tuning of the radio receiver; and on one side of which is provided the tuning knob I adapted to actuate the tuning shaft 8 and on the other side of which is provided the volumecontrol knob 9 adapted to actuate the volumecontrol shaft Ill. These shafts extend through flexible housings and their free ends are adapted for removable attachment to the parts of the radio receiver to be actuated. A lock II, which will be described hereinafter, is adapted to lock the volume-control shaft in the off position against rotation, thereby preventing use of the radio receiver when desired. In the case of a multi-band receiver, there may be provided a bracket i2 which is removably carried at the bottom of the device and which serves to rotatablv support a shaft IZa adapted for connection to wave-band switching means at the receiver, which shaft is actuatable by the knob l3.

The conductors 4 and. 5 lead to a switch located within the device I as will be described later and serve to energize the radio receiver and a pilot light 59. The conductor 4 may be connected to the automobile battery or live side of the automobile electrical systemby means of the connector terminal I. The other end of conductor 4 is connected to one terminal of a snap switch ll of the on-oif type. The other terminal of said switch is connected to conductor 5 and also by a shortwire to clip 60 which contacts the pilot light, as will be disclosed hereinafter. The conductor 5 carries at its free end a combined connector and fuse-retaining device i5. This device comprises a sleeve or shell l8 into which the conductor 5 extends, the sleeve thus being slidably associated with the conductor. Between the terminal I! carried at the end of the conductor and the end wall of the sleeve, there is interposed a coil spring l8 which maintains ood electrical contact with the fuse element l9 removably carried within an insulating sleeve 20. The free end of sleeve I6 is adapted for removable attachment to the radio-receiving set and when so attached, the fuse l9 engages an electrical contact at the receiving set so that the fuse is connected in circuit with the switch. It will be seen that replacement of the fuse merely requires detachment of the connector, whereupon the fuse will slide outward from the sleeve 20. The return circuit for the pilot lamp and radio receiver is provided by the electrical contact of these parts with the automobile frame. Thus it will be seen that when the switch is in its operative position, both the radio receiver and the pilot light will be energized and when the switch is in its inoperative position, the circuit from the automobile battery to the radio receiver and pilot light is broken by said switch.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the tuning shaft 8 is connected through gearing 2| to the rotatable disk assembly 22 which comprises a disk-gear 23 and a disk 24 in front thereof. These disks are mounted centrally of the device for rotation. The disk-gear 23 preferably has misshaped gear teeth 23a which will not mesh with the associated gear, thus serving as a stop in either direction of rotation. I The teeth 23a may be misshaped during stamping of the disk-gear. The front face of the disk-gear 23 is made light-reflecting, for example by the application of light-reflecting paint, while the disk 24 is provided with a slit 25 through which light may pass. As will be seen later, the purpose of this is to cause the slit 25 to form an indicating image on the window of the device in 40 cooperative relation with the indicia, as seen in Fig. 1. At the same time, the slit itself may serve as an indicator in the event of failure of the lamp. As the tuning shaft is rotated, the indicating image-formed by slit 25 will be likewise rotated.

As illustrated more clearly in Fig. 5, a tensioning device in the form of a spring 26 is cooperatively associated with the rotatable disk assembly. The end 21 of this spring is secured to the diskgear 23, while the body of this spring is coiled about the stationary hub 28 and extends about a stationary pin 29 with the other end 30 of the spring extending through a slot or groove 3| (see Fig. 3) in the hub and through the slot or groove I at the neck 32 of the pintle 33 carrying the disks.

By virtue of the head 34 at the end of the pintle, the disk assembly is thus rotatably secured within the hub 28. The spring 26 serves to take up any lost motion or backlash in the gearing, thus affording accurate control. The stop provided by the misshapen gears of the disk gear 23, as above mentioned, serves to limit the torsion or tension to which the spring may be subjected.

The disk 24 is frictionally attached to the diskgear 23, and may be adjusted or calibrated by the use of a tool adapted to be inserted in the opening for the lamp unit, described hereinafter, the tool being adapted to engage vanes 24a turned out from the disk, so that the disk may be rotated to calibrate the position of the slit thereof.

As shown in Fig. 3, the tuning shaft 8 and the volume-control shaft l0 carry sleeves 8a and Ma, respectively, at their ends, which sleeves are secured in place by the wire 35, one end of which extends through the slot 36 (see Fig. 4) in the bearing 31 and rides in a circumferential groove 38 in the sleeve l0a. This serves to key or look the shaft l8 against longitudinal movement. The wire extends about stationary pins 39, Fig. 2, and its other end rides in a circumferential groove 40 (see Fig. 3) of the sleeve 8a, thus keying or looking the shaft 8 against axial movement.

Adjacent the volume-control shaft, there is provided a switch 4| (see Fig. 3) which preferably takes the form of a simple snap switch having an actuating member in the form of a movable fork 42. This member is adapted to be actuated in either direction by a pin 43 carried upon a disk 44 which, in turn, is carried by the rotatable shaft I 8. The switch 4| controls the energization of the radio receiver, and the volume-control mechanism thus serves the additional purpose of actuating the switch when rotated to proper position.

The removable cover of the device comprises the frame 45 (see Figs. 6 and '7) within which there is seated a transparent plate 46, which may be formed of glass, backed by the opaque plate structure 41 having a circular flange 48. The disk 24 is disposed within the flange, as shown clearly in Fig. 3, so that substantially no light passes around the edgeof the disk. The glass plate 46 has etched on the back surface thereof the indicia and the index markings therefor, as

shown in Fig. 8. The etched indicia and markings are made light-reflecting by the application of a lmht-reflecting paint applied thereto, so that light entering the edge of the glass plate is reflected by the indicia and markings, causing them to become illuminated. The portion 48 of the glass plate is left unobstructed, so that light may pass therethrough. Only such light, however, as is projected through the slit 25 gets to the unobstructed portion of the glass, so that only the movable indicating image is formed thereon. The plate assembly is held in position by the spring wire 58 seated in slots provided in the wall of the frame, as shown clearly in Fig. 6. The inner surface of the walls of the casing is made lightreflecting, for example by the application of lightrefiecting paint, and this serves to reflect light to the edge of the glass plate, causing illumination of the indicia and markings as above mentioned.

In Fig. 9, there is illustrated the lamp unit which forms an important feature of the device. This unit comprises a screw-head 5|, which is adapted to be screwed into an opening in the casing wall. Formed integrally with this member .is a socket-shaped contact 52 upon which there is supported the shell 53 of the lamp socket and insulating washers 54 and 55, the edge of the small socket 52 being flared over as illustrated and serving to hold these members in place. The in: sulating washer 54 serves to insulate the contact 52 from the shell 53, while the washer 55 serves to insulate the shell from the screw-head and small socket. A small collar 53a may be pressed around shell 53 to reinforce it. An insulating sleeve 56 is disposed within the shell 53 and serves to retain the spring 51 and, at the same time, insulate the spring from the shell 53. The extended end 58 of the spring is seated within the small socket contact 52, while the other end of the spring is adapted to receive the tip contact of the lamp 59, as illustrated. The lamp socket and the lamp base are provided with conventional looking or securing means for holding the lamp in the socket. The spring 51 serves to resiliently seat the lamp and also serves as a current-conducting element, it being thus assured that good electrical contact is made from the tip contact of the lamp to the screw-head ii. In this manner. the tip contact of the lamp is grounded to the casing. When the lamp unit is in place, the shell 53 contacts the spring contact 00 which is carried by the casing but insulated therefrom. This completes the electrical circuit from the contact shell of the lamp through the socket shell 53 and the spring 60. It will be seen that the lamp assembly is a self-contained unit which is designed so that the lamp is automatically energized upon the mere attachment of the unit in place.

Referring now to the lock II, this device comprises a rotatable lock barrel 6| rotatably seated in the housing or casing, as shown in Fig. 3. The inner end of the lock barrel is provided with a large diametricalslot 82 and a shorter slot 63 at right angles thereto. The disk 44 above mentioned is cut at one portion thereof to provide the projection 64 arranged cooperatively with the slotted portion of the lock barrel so that the barrel may be rotated to bring either of its slots into alignment with the path of the projection 64. When the lock barrel is in such position that the slot 62 is in alignment with the path thereof, the projection. is permitted to ride through the slot 62 and the rotary movement of the volumecontrol shaft i0 is unaffected. When, however, the lock barrel is in such position that the short slot 83 is in alignment with the path of the projection 64, rotation of the volume-control shaft is prevented when the projection strikes the end walls of the slot 63.

The lock barrel carries a slidable member 66 which is urged to effective position by spring 61 and which, when in its effective position, prevents the insertion of a key other than the proper one by virtue of a portion of the said member being across the key slot 68, as shown in Fig. 12.

When the key illustrated in Fig. 14 is inserted in the key slot, the cam surface 69, formed at the end of the key, moves the member 66 against its springs and permits rotation of the lock barrel.

The member 66 has a projection 10 (see Fig. 12)

which is adapted to seat in either of recesses H and I2 provided in the wall of the lock housing.

Movement of the lock barrel is limited by the projection 13 on the barrel which rides in the slot 14 in the lock housing. The lock barrel is maintained in position by the spring-pressed member 15, the actuating springs 16 of which are held in place by the cover of the device. The member 15 near the end of the lock barrel and having adjacently-disposed flats upon which the member Ill may alternatively seat upon the rotation of the look barrel back and forth during locking and unlocking operations.

The manner of operation is as follows:to turn on the radio receiver, the control is first unlocked by the key thus freeing the volumecontrol shaft. The volume control is then turned up, which movement snaps the switch ll to its operative position, energizing the pilot light and the radio receiver. Light reflected from the walls of the casing will enter the glass member 46 at all edges and will cause the indicia etched thereon to appear illuminated. Light reflected through the slot 25 will appear as a bright line in the channel 49. As the receiver is turned, said bright line in cooperation with the fixed indicia will move around the region 49, correspond- 75 ing to the movement of disk 24, and indicate seats in a circumferential groove 11 provided the tuning of the receiver. It will be noted that only reflected light will come from the unit and thus the light will not be annoying to the operator of the automobile. When the volume control is turned down to the oi! position, in which it may be locked, the snap switch 42 is put in its inoperative position, thus deenergizing the radio receiver and the pilot light.

It will be seen that the device provided by this invention is compact and simple and yet it affords complete control of a modern radio receiver. The features of the device above described enhance it greatly both structurally and functionally. Although the preferred form of the device has been illustrated for the purpose of disclosure, it will be understood that modifications and changes may be made without detpiarting from the spirit and scope of the inven- I claim:

1. A control and indicator device for radio receivers, comprising an indicator window including a transparent plate and having lightreflecting indicia arranged to receive light through the edges of said transparent plate to illuminate said indicia, a rotatable opaque member having a light-transmitting indicator portion adjacent said window, a rotatable tuning element adapted to actuate said opaque member, and a stationary lamp arranged cooperatively with said transparent plate and said opaque member so as to propa ate light through said indicator portion and through the edges of said transparent plate, whereby the indicia are illuminated and a movable light indicator image is produced on said window in cooperative relation with said indicia.

2. A control and indicator device for radio receivers, comprising a casing having an indicator window, said window including a transparent plate with free edge portions and having lightreflecting indicia on the rear surface thereof, and an opaque plate adjacent said surface having an aperture adjacent said indicia, leaving a portion of said transparent plate adjacent said indicia unobstructed, whereby light is prevented -from passing from the rear of said window through said transparent plate except through said unobstructed portion and through the edges of said transparent plate, a rotatable opaque member adjacent said unobstructed portion having a slit opening through which light may pass, a rotatable tuning element adapted to actuate said opaque member, and a stationary lamp behind said opaque member, whereby said indicia are illuminated by reflection of light entering the edges of said transparent plate and a movable light indicator image is produced on said unobstructed portion in cooperative relation with said indicia by light passing through said slit opening.

3. A control and indicator device for radio receivers, comprising a casing having an indicator window, said window including a transparent plate with free edge portions and having lightreflecting indicia on the rear surface thereof, and an opaque plate adjacent said surface having a transverse circular flange and an aperture within said flange adjacent said indicia, leaving a portion of said transparent plate adjacent said indicia unobstructed, whereby light is prevented from passing from the rear of said window through said transparent plate except through said unobstructed portion and through the edges of said transparent plate, a rotatable tion or light entering the edges of said transparent plate and a movable light indicator image is produced on said unobstructed portion in cooperative reiation with said indicia by light pass ing through said slit opening.

EUCLID 0. BURTON. 

